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TYLER — The state of the city is quite good these days. That’s according to Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, who gave the Chamber of Commerce her annual report on the topic yesterday. Bass says, “We plan ahead, we make sure that we know what direction we’re going, and in spite of the challenging economic times the last couple of years, we have done really well.” Bass pointed to new master plans for parks and recreation, Lake Tyler, and Lake Bellwood. She also mentioned the community’s Industry Growth Initiative “that’s all about bringing jobs to Tyler and growing our economic base so that our citizens have good quality paying jobs.”

Bass also called for continued and additional citizen involvement to keep things rolling. In fact, she says the city is issuing a “call to serve” challenge to citizens, asking everyone to do his or her part. Bass remarked, “By us all working together for the greater good, we can achieve greater results.”

JACKSONVILLE — Residents follow up on a case involving battling teens caught on tape in broad daylight at a Jacksonville park. Last week, word got out about a violent brawl involving youths from Jacksonville and New Summerfield. Video of the fight was posted on YouTube, which has since removed the post. But now, community members have gathered to view the video for themselves — many for the first time. Some of the residents were said to be appalled — completely taken by surprise.

Jacksonville High School student Cynthia Quintana tells KETK she first saw the video at school. Cynthia says, ” I kind of know some of the guys, and I just don’t understand; why would they be fighting, especially during school time? And I saw how violent it was, and I just don’t like it.” Now parents say they want the teens in that video off the streets and in community centers, sports — “anything that would not get them involved in fights,” according to one resident. Parents say it’s the only way to make sure fights like the one in the video won’t happen again.

LINDALE — As a reminder to parents and the community, the Lindale Independent School District has extended the previously scheduled early release day on May 26 to a full-length instructional day. The action was approved by the school board in March. LISD received a waiver from the Texas Education Agency which exempts the district from holding classes on May 31 as a snow day make-up. May 31 was originally scheduled on the district’s school calendar to as the date to recover instruction time lost after LISD’s closure on February 4 due to winter weather. To meet the criteria for the waiver, LISD extended two early release days to full-length instruction days (March 22 and May 26). Classes will be released at the regularly scheduled end time on each campus.

TYLER – A 37-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for his role in a multi-state health care fraud scheme that partially occurred in the Eastern District of Texas, Kevin Onwudiwe pleaded guilty last October to health care fraud charges. He was sentenced in Tyler yesterday to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Onwudiwe was also ordered to pay $251,000 in restitution.

In a related matter, on April 5, 2011, Jasper Ogbonna, 42, of Newark, Delaware, pleaded guilty on Sep. 27, 2010 to health care fraud and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $822,411.44. Ogbonna, the owner of a West Virginia medical supply company, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 30, 2009.

On January 6, 2010, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Ogbonna, Anthony Nnadi, Onwudiwe, Tony Ahi, and Emmanuel Gabriels with health care fraud violations. According to the indictment, from August 2005 through April 2008, Ogbonna controlled and operated Matrix Medical Equipment and Supplies, Inc. in Weirton, West Virginia, and Nnadi controlled and operated Nicco Medical Services, LLC in Little Rock, Arkansas. Nnadi was assisted in the operation of Nicco Medical Services by Onwudiwe and Ahi. Both companies did business providing durable medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries.

During that time, Ogbonna, Nnadi, Onwudiwe, Ahi, Gabriels, and their co-conspirators devised and carried out a scheme to defraud Medicare through the marketing of “ortho kits,” which consisted of a bag of orthotic items such as braces, wraps, and supports. As part of the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators illegally obtained protected Medicare beneficiary health information, including names, dates of birth, and Medicare and Social Security numbers from elderly individuals. Approximately 509 Medicare beneficiaries in Texas and Louisiana were supplied with “ortho kits” which were not prescribed or authorized by a physician and which were not wanted by the beneficiaries. In many instances, physicians’ signatures were forged and false claims were submitted to Medicare in the names of Medicare beneficiaries who were deceased.

Using protected health information, the defendants and their co-conspirators billed between $4,850 and $6,550 for each “ortho kit”, causing the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare of more than $2.8 million. As a result of these claims, the defendants and their co-conspirators unlawfully obtained more than $1,095,000 from Medicare.

TYLER — ETMC is the first hospital system in East Texas to offer complete, online mammogram scheduling. “Online registration for digital mammography at ETMC will add convenience for East Texas women,” according to Regina Davis, director of the breast care center. “Women will be able to schedule their annual appointment at anytime on our secure website, by selecting the date, time and location.”

Patients can log on to http://www.etmc.org and click on the mammogram self-scheduling box, then follow the instructions. “The system will ask the patient questions to make sure she is the right age and meets specified guidelines to receive a screening mammogram. Women should have a baseline mammogram at age 35 to 40 and an annual mammogram beginning at age 40,” said Davis.

Officials say the system has other benefits as well. “We will also be able to generate e-mail reminders and provide additional services that will help East Texas women pursue healthy lifestyles through screening and early detection,” said Susan Shockey, referral services director. ETMC screens over 10,000 women a year for breast cancer.

TYLER — Texas Oncology-Tyler and Mother Frances Hospital of Tyler make a major announcement regarding a partnership with the International Genomics Consortium and the National Institutes of Health’s Cancer Genome Atlas project. Only 12 sites in the U.S. will be initially chosen within the IGC Network to participate in the project, which will look for the underlying mechanisms that cause cancer. Mother Frances spokesman John Moore says he and his colleagues are “very proud” to be a partner with Texas Oncology Tyler. Moore says Mother Frances does a lot of cancer surgeries and treatments every year. But according to Moore, the chance to actually participate in a large-scale study that will provide free data on ways to cure cancer is “just a great honor.”

TYLER — A new treatment that was tested at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has proven to be successful against a rare but serious lung disease called LAM, short for lymphangioleiomyomatosis. “Finally, a drug – sirolimus – has been found that can slow the progression of LAM, an unusual disorder that can lead to serious disability and death,” said James Stocks, M.D., a nationally known lung disease specialist. “LAM primarily strikes younger women who often still have young children at home. Though this is not a miracle cure, it is an important first step,” added Dr. Stocks, the principal investigator of the LAM clinical study at UTHSCT. Most women with the disease live only another eight to 10 years after their diagnosis.

Sirolimus, also known as rapamycin, is the first drug to effectively treat LAM, Dr. Stocks said. Because it suppresses the body’s immune system, sirolimus currently is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs. It also is used as a coating for cardiac artery stents – metal mesh tubes that prop the arteries open – to prevent clotting. During one year of treatment, sirolimus improved the lung function and quality of life of the women who took it, according to the Multicenter International LAM Efficacy of Sirolimus (MILES). MILES is the first randomized, controlled study of a treatment for LAM. In this study, women were randomly assigned to receive sirolimus or a placebo, which is a substance that has no effect, such as a sugar pill.

In women with the disease, abnormal, out-of-control, muscle-like cells take over their lungs, lymph nodes, and kidneys. These mutant cells destroy normal lung tissue, making breathing difficult, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Sometimes the lungs of women with LAM collapse, causing pain and shortness of breath. LAM usually worsens over time, but how quickly it progresses varies greatly, the NHLBI says. Symptoms of LAM are shortness of breath, especially during physical activity; chest pain; frequent cough; and wheezing. The results of MILES were published in a recent online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Besides UTHSCT, other institutions participating in the study included National Jewish Health in Denver; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; the University of California at Los Angeles; Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; the University of Toronto, Canada; and the National Hospital Organization Kinki-Chou Chest Medical Center in Osaka, Japan.

Funding for the study was provided by the NIH Office of Rare Disease Research; the Food and Drug Administration; the LAM Foundation, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; the University of Cincinnati; the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance Rothberg Courage Award; Vi and John Adler; and the Adler Foundation.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate two drive-by shootings. They occurred yesterday morning between 2:30 and 3:30. Officers first responded to 2411 Live Oak then got another report of shots fired at a 1506 N Pegues. The residents were home at both locations. No injuries were reported. Authorities say they do not believe the two shootings are related. Anyone with information is urged to contact Tyler Police, at 903-531-1000.

HALLSVILLE – A Dallas man remains in guarded condition in a Longview hospital following a weekend shooting in Hallsville. The shooting was reported around 10:00 Sunday night at a residence on Farm Road 449.

Investigators say Richard Newland, 47, was found lying on the ground outside the house. He had been shot once in the stomach. A suspect identified as L. J. Harris of Dallas was arrested at the scene. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and placed in the Harrison County jail in lieu of a $50,000.

Investigators say Newland, Harris and a third Dallas man had been visiting at the Harrison County residence. As they were preparing to drive back to Dallas an argument erupted. Investigators say Harris went back into the house and found a .22 caliber rifle. When he came back outside, that’s when Newland was shot.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed three members to the Sulphur River Basin Authority Board of Directors. The board handles construction, maintenance and operations of the Sulphur River and its tributaries in the state and watershed.

Named to the panel are Wally Kraft of Paris is a veterinarian and owner of the Animal Health Center, Michael Russell of Clarksville is owner and operator of Cuthand Creek Cattle Company and Patricia Wommack of Lone Star is retired from the U.S. Department of Defense. Kraft was appointed for a term to expire February 1, 2013 while the others were reappointed for a term to expire February 1, 2017.

These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

TYLER — Tyler ISD trustees took care of a variety of business at a special Tuesday meeting. The Board of Trustees approved the canvass of votes from the May 1 trustee election as presented, proclaiming Orenthia Mason as trustee for Single Member District 2 and Shirley Jordan as trustee for Single Member District 4. The newly elected trustees took the oath of office and will each serve a three-year term. Trustees also approved Michelle Carr, Single Member District 6, as the Board President, and Mason as the Board Vice President. They will serve in these positions for one year.

The Board of Trustees also gave the green light to two new principals. Joanne Saul was authorized and approved as principal of Dixie Elementary School. Mrs. Saul has 14 years of education experience. She has been the interim principal of Dixie since January. Prior to joining Tyler ISD, Saul worked in Alief ISD where she was an assistant principal, a technology and science specialist, and a fourth grade teacher.

Misti Rasure was authorized and approved as Boulter Middle School principal. Mrs. Rasure has 15 years of education experience with almost 10 years in Tyler ISD. She has been the interim principal since March at Boulter, where she was previously the assistant principal of instruction. Rasure was also at Moore Middle School as an instructional specialist, a math department head and teacher, and summer school principal. Both principals begin their new positions immediately.

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview officers are once again participating in the Click It or Ticket enforcement program, which targets seat belt and child safety restraint violators. The current program began Monday and continues through June 5. Texas law requires every person sitting in the front or rear seat of a vehicle to wear a safety belt. A child less than eight years old and less than four feet, nine inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat. Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for a safety belt violation if they, or any of their passengers under the age of 15, are not buckled up or properly restrained. Traffic fines for failing to use a seat belt or secure a child in a safety seat can run from $25 to $200, plus court costs.

TYLER — Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force during the Memorial Day holiday, this Friday through Sunday — and they won’t be taking “no” for an answer. A multi-joint effort between the District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over the county will participate in the ‘No-Refusal’ DWI Campaign once again. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked to blow into a breath-test machine or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood is then analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Authorities say the program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. According to law officers, it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be conducting sobriety testing with or without driver’s consent.

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police Department Detectives have concluded their nine-month investigation into the August 29, 2010 deaths of two local residents. Around 7:30 that morning, officers were called to a house on the 300 block of Davis Street following a report of a man and woman bleeding in the front yard. When officers arrived on scene, they found the body of Brianna Shaw, 23, on the front porch of the residence and the body of Artha Griffin, 64, on the ground next to the porch. Each victim was dead and had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Evidence found at the scene indicated that Artha Griffin shot Brianna Shaw and then shot himself, but the gun was missing from the scene. Detectives did not find the gun used in this incident, delaying the investigation results, according to police. Authorities say all available evidence proved the deaths to be a murder-suicide and showed that a third party removed the gun from the scene. Detectives believe they have identified the person responsible for removing the gun from the scene following the deaths, but they say they have not developed enough probable cause to charge that person with a crime. The Lufkin Police Department says it will not release the name of this person because a criminal charge is not pending.

LONGVIEW — A weekend burglary causes one East Texas daycare to shut down for a day. It happened at the Kids Connection Preschool on the 200 block of Pine Tree Road in Longview. Officials tell KETK sometime between Friday night and Monday morning, someone broke a window and ransacked the place. The owners declined to comment on camera, but said nothing like this has ever happened in the 15 years they’ve been open. Longview police say they’re surprised this happened to a day care. If you have any information on this case, you’re asked to call police right away.

LINDALE — A Hawkins teen was killed Sunday morning in a one-vehicle crash after his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. According to Department of Public Safety officials, Jonathon Scott Tutor, 18, was traveling southbound on FM 14, about five miles east of Lindale, at around 3:34 when his vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree. Tutor was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

TYLER — TxDOT maintenance crews are performing pavement-texturing operations on Spur 147 (Gentry Parkway) in and around the roadway’s intersections with Glenwood, Palace and Beckham. Gentry and Glenwood in that area will be closed from 8:30 this morning until noon. This follows yesterday’s closure from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.

TYLER — The trial date for former Bullard police officer Steven Wayne Morris, 27, accused of sexual assault of a child, was rescheduled Monday due to a request for a continuance from Morris’ attorney. Morris’ case will go to trial June 20 at 10:00 at the Smith County Courthouse. If convicted of the second-degree felony, Morris could face 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Morris, of Jacksonville, was arrested by Texas Ranger Sgt. Brent Davis on Aug. 19, 2010. On Sept. 9, 2010, Morris was released from the Smith County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Morris was indicted on March 10, 2011. Morris allegedly had a year-long sexual relationship with a female student at Bullard High School, said Bullard Police Chief Gary Lewis. When the relationship began, the student was 15 years old, Lewis said. After seeing Morris’ phone records, Lewis terminated Morris, who had been employed by the Bullard Police Department for two years.

GREGG COUNTY — Amy Cowling, 33, died in the Gregg County jail of reported withdrawal symptoms from Methadone and Xanax, at the end of 2010. The incident forced the arrest of two jailers, the firing of three more, and the resignation of another. The Gregg County jail had a high jailer turnover rate of more than 40% of the 167 employees from that year.

According to the Texas Tribune: Starting in 2012, jails may be required to tell the state about their turnover rate every month. Cowling’s 2010 death led to the formation of a bill by Sen. Rodney Ellis (D – Houston), which would require the Commission on Jail Standards to monitor jail turnover rates, inmate deaths, escapes and inspection failures to figure out whether a jail is “at risk”.

TYLER — Smith County deputies arrest a Tyler man after a reported dispute Monday. It happened in the 13,000 block of Big Oak Bay Road in Tyler. According to Smith County officials, Garry Townsend, 51, who has had run-ins with the law before, had a disagreement with his father. Townsend reportedly had a rifle in his possession. Deputies say Townsend did not shoot or even point the rifle at anyone. He was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and family violence.

WASKOM – For the second time this month the Citizens National Bank in Waskom has been robbed. It was held up around 10:45 Monday morning. It was also robbed on May 6th.

Waskom ISD put all of their buildings on lock down for less than an hour yesterday when officials were dispatched to the bank in the 700 block of Texas Spur 156 in Waskom, according to Sandra Rodgers, the superintendent’s secretary.

FBI spokesman Mark White said Monday’s bank robber could be tied to several other robberies dating back to December. “The physical description and method the robber used was very similar to the person who robbed Citizens National Bank earlier this month, as well as seven or eight other robberies in Shreveport,” White said. “However, investigators are still looking to see if the robberies are connected or isolated.”

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University has named Dr. Ronald A. DeLap as its new dean of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, effective August 1. DeLap is the dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Economic Development at Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich. DeLap was selected following an extensive national search and the review of many excellent engineering leaders according to LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford.

“Ron has led innovative electrical engineering programs for the U.S. Air Force and is known as an effective classroom teacher who values creating hands-on learning experiences for students,” Lunsford said. “He has been a champion for increasing the number of women in the engineering profession and has experience working across cultures. As an engineering professional and as an educator, Ron understands the intersection of science and the Christian faith.”

DeLap is a retired officer with the U.S. Air Force, who began at the lowest enlisted rank with only a high school diploma, rising to the rank of Major and completing his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering. His 22-year career with the USAF included leading an ROTC detachment at UCLA and teaching electrical engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He has been recognized for his expertise in Space Based Radar Systems and has worked as a design engineer at the National Security Agency. Most recently he has been involved in “green energy” research, especially next-generation solar cell charging systems with the Energizer Corporation.

MANGUM, OKLA. (AP) — Prosecutors and defense attorneys seated two more jurors Monday in the trial of a former warden’s wife who prosecutors say helped a convicted killer escape from jail after she fell in love with him. District Attorney John Wampler and defense attorney Garvin Isaacs said seven jurors had been picked by Monday afternoon. Jury selection in the case of Bobbi Parker resumed Tuesday morning. Wampler says he doubts a jury will be seated this week.

Parker is accused of helping convicted killer Randolph Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994 and running away with him. Defense attorneys say Dial abducted Parker and held her captive until she was rescued at a Texas chicken ranch in Shelby County in 2005. Dial maintained until his 2007 death that he kidnapped Parker.

AUSTIN (AP) — For some Republicans in the Texas House, it’s becoming all about abortion, all the time. Conservative representatives tried to tack obscure anti-abortion measures onto important but otherwise unrelated legislation throughout the day Monday. Liberals countered with long-winded speeches, points of order and other clumsy delaying tactics. As legislators took up a fairly benign proposal creating health cooperatives for private insurance companies, Republican Rep. Bryan Hughes of Mineola proposed an amendment that would bar private insurers statewide from reimbursing patients for abortions once the federal health care act is implemented in Texas. Hughes was eventually forced to scrap that motion, and the House passed the bill Tuesday. Later, however, a bill modifying operation of the state judiciary passed with two amendments related to toughening rules on waiving parental consent for minors seeking to have abortion. Another measure failed to adopt.

WASKOM — FBI investigators on Monday morning were called to assist the Waskom Police Department after Citizens National Bank had their second reported bank robbery this month. Waskom ISD put all of their buildings on lock down for less than an hour after about 10:45 when officials were dispatched to the bank in the 700 block of Texas Spur 156 in Waskom, according to Sandra Rodgers, the superintendent’s secretary.

FBI spokesman Mark White said investigators were still on the scene at around 4 p.m. conducting interviews and canvassing the area to see if neighbors or area residents saw anything. White said it’s possible that Monday’s bank robber could be tied to several other robberies dating back to December. “The physical description and method the robber used was very similar to the person who robbed Citizens National Bank earlier this month, as well as seven or eight other robberies in Shreveport,” White said. “However, investigators are still looking to see if the robberies are connected or isolated.”

The bank was robbed May 6.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – Two men died when their sport utility vehicle veered off a rural road and slammed through an East Texas mobile home that had been vacated only two days before. The Texas Department of Public Safety report identifies the dead men as Zachtavius Demario Garrett, 30, and Jarome Ramon Murchison, 23. Both were wearing seat belts when they were found dead in the wreckage of their SUV early Monday just behind the mobile home they had crashed through. Neighbors reported they heard a crash about midnight Sunday. No other injuries were reported in the accident about five miles east of Nacogdoches. Mobile home owner Mary Lampin says the woman who had lived there had moved out and into a nursing home on Friday.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview say a burglar was caught in the act over the weekend. On Sunday, just before midnight, officers responded to a commercial burglary alarm in the 2100 Block of Gilmer Road. When officers arrived they found a man leaving the building. According to a police report, officers stopped the man and he stated he worked for the business as a plumber. Officers also say they observed several power tools lying inside the suspect’s car. The man was identified as Dereck Alan Duvall 30, of Longview. The officers contacted the business owner. When the owner arrived on scene he told police that Duvall did not work for him. Duvall was arrested for burglary of a building, a state jail felony. Duvall was also arrested for four outstanding city warrants.

TYLER — Monday afternoon classes at Tyler Junior College’s Pirtle Technology Building were canceled for a while yesterday because of a gas leak. The building was back to normal by 5:00pm. Utility crews struck the gas line Monday morning. Faculty and staff evacuated the Pirtle building; about 150 people were inside. Officials say crews hit the gas line when they were attempting to replace an electrical line. There were no injuries.

KILGORE — The name of a woman killed Friday in a vehicle rollover has been released by the Department of Public Safety. Brittnie Bing, 23, of Kilgore was a passenger in a 2001 Chevy Metro that hit a culvert on U.S. Highway 259 south of East Danville Street in Kilgore and rolled. Two people were injured. Driver Wallace Maples, 48, and Jeanie Maples, 48, both of Kilgore are listed in stable condition at Good Shepherd Medical Center. He has a broken shoulder, and she has a leg injury, authorities said.

LONGVIEW — A Longview massage parlor, shut down back in February after a raid, is back open. The Secura Spa, located along the 2000 block of Gilmer Road, was shut down after an undercover raid revealed a couple of workers did not have a massage license. The owner was also arrested for operating a massage parlor without a license. Longview Police say the business is now in compliance.